Side curtain for locomotives



H. A. HOKE II; I

SIDE CURTAIN FOR LOCOMOTIVES Fild July 11, 1928 Sept. 3, 1929.

Patented Sep 3, 19295 UNITED STATES HARRY A. HOKE,-"OF AI TOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIDE CURTAIN FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

Application filed July 11, 1928. Serial No. 291,890.

This invention relates to side curtains for locomotives, and more particularly to a novel stiffener for the rear end of the curtain and a novel means for'securing this stiffener to the tender.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved type of locomotive side curtain.

One of the main features of the invention comprises the arrangement of a novel rigid stiffener at the rear edge of the curtain.

Another feature of the invention comprises a novel means for attaching the stiffener at the rear edge of the curtain to the bulkhead at the forward end of the tender.

Still another feature of the invention comprises a novel means-for stowing the curtain stiffenerwhen the curtain is furled.

Other and further features and objects ofthe invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawing and following specification, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of the invention with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tender shown connected to a locomotive, the cab portion of which is shown in longitudinal vertical section.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section along the face of the curtain stifiener taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3; and

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

It is oftenthe practice toiprovide curtains to close the space existing between the rear of the tank bulkhead of the tender to keep'out wind, snow and rain from the gangway between the cab and the tender. Various forms of curtains have been suggested for this purpose, but all have been subject to certain disadvantages. The present invention is intended'to overcome these disadvantages andprovide a highly satisfactory form ofjcurtam- The curtain extends between the rear end 10 of the cab 11 of the locomotive and the front end of the bulkhead 12 of the tank 13 of the tender to close the 'gangway between the cab and the tender where it is covered by the over-' end of a locomotive cab and the forward end hang or tail 14 of the cab. At 15 is shown the engine deck and at '16 the tender deck. These are shown as substantially in the same plane, but there is a variation between their levels of several inches, depending on the working order of the locomotive.

The curtain extends from the lower edge of the overhang to well below the level of the decks as shown in Fig. 1.

The curtain proper isformed of heavy canvas or like material and has its forward edge folded, hemmed and secured to a strip 17 which is attached in any suitable manner to the rear edge 10 of the cab. The upper edge of the curtain is hemmed, as shown at 18, and

is provided with a plurality of rings such as 19 slidable along a rod 20 attached at the rear end to the cab tail and at the forward end to the rear of the cab, as shown. The depression' 21 at the front end of this rod 20 allows the rings 19 to drop therein to assist in retaining the rings and curtain in position when the curtain is furled. The ring 19' at the rear edge of the curtain is lower than the others and attached to the clipped cornenof the curtain. It rests in the depression 21 at the rear of the rod 20 to retain the top edge of the curtain extended. The attachment stri 17 at the forward edge of the curtain exten s down below the level of the decks and the flap 24 of the curtain below the strip 17 hangs loosely below the decks, as shown. w

The rear edge of the curtain isprovided with a stiffener 25 formed of sheet metal folded into a more or less rectangular tube asbest shown in Fig. 3 having the flat sides 26, the substantially flat outer edge 27 and the forwardly projecting wings 28. These wings are attached respectively to the sides 26 by the portions 29. The hem 30 at the. rear edge of the curtain is adapted to be received between the wings 28 and clamped there by means of the bolts 31 pass ng through the wings and the hem. The shape of the stifi'ener is such as to make'it quite r1g1d, and it is quite simply fastened to or removed from the curtain when desired. Its upper end reaches substantially to the top of the tender bulkhead as shown in Fig.1, and its lower end stops just short of the tender deck, as shown. j I

At the forward end of the tender the tank is provided with the bulkhead 12 WhlCll is usually fitted with tool cabinets r closets having the doors 32 hinged at one edge, as shown at 33, and secured shut by means of a hasp connection (not shown). Attached to the door 32 or any available space on the front of the bulkhead are the vertical angle bars 34 having their facing flanges 35 spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of thestiffener and extending vertically along the door. At two or more points these flanges 35 are secured together by means of suitable rivets 36 over which are slipped the sleeves 37 between the flanges to maintain them apart.

At proper positions the edge stiffener is provided with the slots 38 having the straight vertical portions 39 through both side members 26 and the curved section 40 through both side members and the edge 27. The stiffener is adapted to be attached to the bulkhead by lifting it slightly above its normal position, engaging the portions 40 of the slots over the sleeves 37, pressing the stiffener 37 in slightly and allowing it to drop with the portions 39 of the slots over the sleeves 37. The tubular stiffener may be reinforced adjacent the slots 38 by means of solid inserts such as 41 shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The close engagement of the angle bars with the sides of the stiffener provides a rigid support for the same against any lateral movement, and the two points of attachment of the stiffener with the bulkhead prevent it from having any rotational movement about a transverse horizontal axis. The curtain is left sufficiently loose, of'course, to allow for the ex- .cess material necessary when rounding curves and has sufficient slack above the stiffener to prevent the stiffener from being lifted off of the sleeves when the locomotive deck rises above the level of the tender deck. This slack also takes care of shrinkage when wet.

When the curtain is not in use, it may be furled by unhooking the stiffener 25 from the bulkhead and engaging its slots overthe studs 42 suitably mounted adjacent or on the strip 17 on the cab. The stiffener is thus supported. The rings 19 run forward on the rod 20 and are received in the depression 21. The curtain is then bunched together and the straps 22 passed around it to hold it flu-led. These straps are secured on vbuttons 23 at one end and detachably enga eable at the other over suitable carriage buttons (not shown).

The tubular form of stiffener shown is of much greater rigidity than the customary metal rod, which often suffered from bending as the result of careless handling. Its means of attachment both to the curtain and to the bulkhead produces a superior arrangement an one not likely to get out of order even if roughly handled.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a locomotive and a tender having a side curtain with an edge secured to the cab of said locomotive, the combination of a stiffener on the rear ed e ofsaid curtain and means to attach said stiffener only to said tender against lateral and longitudinal movement.

2. In a locomotive and a tender having a side curtain with an edge secured to the cabof said locomotive, the combination of astiffener on the rear edge of said curtain and spaced means on the tender bulkhead adapted to receive between them the said stiffener.

3. In a locomotive and a tender having a side curtainwith an edge secured to the cab of said locomotive, the combination of a stiffener on the rear edge of said curtain, parallel strips on said tender spaced to closely engage the sides of said stiffener and means between said strips to retain said stiffener in position.

4:. In a locomotive and a tender having a side curtain with an edge secured to the cab of the locomotive, the combination of a metal stiffener fastened around the rear edge of said curtain, slots in said stiffener forming hooks and means on the tender bulkhead to engage in said slots to hold said curtain extended.

5. In a locomotive and a tender having a side curtain with its forward edge attached to the rear of the locomotive cab, the combination of means supporting the upper edge of said curtain from the cab tail, a stiffener secured to the rear edge of said curtain and means on the-tender-tank bulkhead-doorto receive and hold said stiffener.

6. A stiffener for the rear'edge of a locomotive-side curtain including a sheet of metal bent into a tube having a pair of substantially parallel spaced sides and a pair of parallel adjacent wings adapted to receive between them the edge of a curtain, said stiffener being provided with a transverse slot a portion of which extends longitudinally of the stiffener for the purpose described.

7. In a locomotive and a tender having a side curtain with its forward edge secured to the locomotive cab, the combination of a stiffener at the rear ed e of said curtain rcmovably secured only to tie tender bulkhead.

8. In a locomotive and a tender having a side curtain with its forward edge permanently secured to the locomotive cab, the combina tion of a stiffener at the rear edge of the ourtain and engageable only with the tender bulkextended, and means on said cab to receive port it and hold the curtain extended, and said stiffener when the curtain is furled; means on said cab to engage said stiflener to 10. In a locomotive and a tender having a support it when the curtain is furled. 10 side curtain with its forward edge secured to y In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my 5 the locomotive cab, the combination of a stifisignature. 1

ener at the rear ;edge of said curtain, means on said tender to engage said stifiener to sup- HARRY A. HOKE. 

